What Native Americans Are Owed
|
TOOLBOX
   Resize
COMMENT
 Discussion Policy
 CLOSE
Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post.
Who's Blogging  |
Del Quentin Wilber ["What Is Owed to Native Americans? Judge Hopes to Settle Question in Suit Over Oil, Gas Royalties," In the Loop, June 11] gave a succinct overview of a momentous trial concerning what the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has called "government malfeasance" regarding the handling of individual Indian trust accounts over the past century. Federal mismanagement of profits from 10 million acres of Indian land has kept generations of Native American families in poverty despite their substantial assets.
In 2005, Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.) proposed reforms to the Interior Department's accounting system for Indian trust funds and a settlement to repay the money owed. Finding a judicial or legislative remedy to repay the families is not only a fiduciary matter -- it is a moral responsibility.
PATRICIA POWERS
Legislative Secretary; Native American Affairs
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Washington
